Panglossian Paradigm
• A panglossian is optimistic regardless of the circumstances.
• Panglossian Adjective: Expecting a favorable
outcome or dwelling on hopeful aspects
• Paradigm mean concept, hypothesis, theory, idea
• The term “Panglossian Paradigm” was coined by evolutionary
biologists Stephen J. Gould and Richard Lewontin.
• Darwin, one of the evolutionary biologists emphasised that
natural selection is not the only mechanism for evolutionary change.
• For him, sexual selection explained many seemingly non-
adaptive features of the living world.
• Geographical separation – as of the famous finches on the
different Galapagos islands – are another, as separated populations
will gradually drift apart by chance for random variation quite apart
from any other adaptive pressures.
• And what does one mean by adaptation anyhow?
• Ultra-Darwinians insist, for instance, that all the subtle (slight,
fine, delicate) variations that can be found in the banding patterns of
snail shells are adaptive.
• A panglossian is optimistic regardless of the circumstances.
• Panglossian Adjective: Expecting a favorable
outcome or dwelling on hopeful aspects
• Paradigm mean concept, hypothesis, theory, idea
• The term “Panglossian Paradigm” was coined by evolutionary
biologists Stephen J. Gould and Richard Lewontin.
• Darwin, one of the evolutionary biologists emphasised that
natural selection is not the only mechanism for evolutionary change.
• For him, sexual selection explained many seemingly non-
adaptive features of the living world.
• Geographical separation – as of the famous finches on the
different Galapagos islands – are another, as separated populations
will gradually drift apart by chance for random variation quite apart
from any other adaptive pressures.
• And what does one mean by adaptation anyhow?
• Ultra-Darwinians insist, for instance, that all the subtle (slight,
fine, delicate) variations that can be found in the banding patterns of
snail shells are adaptive.
